Natural air drier



P 8, 1931- s. w. BONSALL 1,822,431

NATURAL AIR DRIER 4 Filed June 28, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l Svwawtoz Sept. 8, 1931.

S. W. BONSALL NATURAL AIR DRIER Filed June 28, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 vwewtoz Seymour/V5074 .saZZ, l $5111 4 V W gall/I Patented Sept. 8, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- SEYMOUR W. BONSALL, OF NEWARK, NEW' JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO EUGENE W. SMALL AND. ABRAHAM BENEDICT, TRUSTEES, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Application filed June as,

My present invention has relation to an improvement in rotary driers adapted to 'remove the moisture from various materials by the uniform action of air at a reduced at-' mospheric pressure and at a temperature generally lower than that of the atmosphere surrounding the drying machine.

It is one of the advantages of my improved drier that it can be utilized for evaporating liquids or semi-liquids and that the liquid to be evaporated can be fed into or supplied to my apparatus while the same is in operation, thereby saving the time necessary to recharge the apparatus from time to time.

It is a further advantage of the preferred form of my invention which is herein shown and described, that it may be readily adjusted with respect to the width of the air passages through which the drying current of air is forced, thereby regulating the degree of vacuum and the lowering of temperature produced with a given initial velocity of the drying air.

A preferred form of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings wherein Fig.

1 1s a view partly 1n section and partly in elevation of a complete apparatus equipped to evaporate liquids; Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the same taken directly over one of the trays, Fig. 3 is an enlar ed detail partly in vertical section, showing t e adj ustable means for separating the trays and Figure 4 is an enlarged section through the upper bearing for the rotatable casing and the 7 trays or support.

It is to be understood that, although I have shown in the drawings a special form of drier particularly adapted to the evaporation of liquids, the invention may be employed for the drying or dehydration of all kinds of materials and especially foods.

Essentially my improved apparatus comprises a central support or receptacle for the material to be acted upon whether liquids or solids, in combination with air scooping means arranged to rotate independently on the central support while maintaining such a relation to saidsupport as to cause a current of drying air to pass through the same. The

" support is preferably held in a stationary po- NATURAL AIR DRIER 1928. Serial No. 289,004.

sition during operation of the machine, although this is not absolutely essential, so that the current of air passing through the drier rotates with the casing relatively to the support or receptacles.

In the specific form or embodiment of my invention herein shown the central portion which is destined to carry the material to be dried, dehydrated or evaporated com rises a framework having a top plate 10 and a bottom plate 11 united at intervals at the periphery by vertical braces 12. Within this frame may be inserted an appro riate number of trays, perferably circular s own at 13 which are placed horizontally over each other and are spaced apart preferably by means hereinafter described. These trays are shown with solid bottoms so as to hold liquids, but this is not essential to the broad invention.

Enclosing the receptacles 13 is a casing comprising a casing top plate 14 and a floor or casing bottom plate 15 united by vertical walls 16 and 17 placed symmetrically as shown in Figure 2. Carried by and preferably formed integral with the bottom, top and side walls of the casing are air scoops shown generally at 18 and 19 in Figure 2. In the preferred integral construction, the side walls of the casing are curved in opposite directions as indicated so as to form the scoops for the air at the entrance surfaces or openings 18 and 19. When the casing and scoops are rotated as will be hereinafter described in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figure 2, air will be gathered or taken in by the scoops or by the curved ends of the walls 16 and 17 and forced in separate end of .the passages on each side to meet the outer edges of the partitions and 21, as shown at 22 and 23. The vertical walls 20 and 21- serve to dissi ate the stream of air at the outlet ends 0 thepassages thus formed to cause the dischar ed air to spread and spill over the curve edges of the top and bottom plates 14 and 15, and to be forced out of the path of the intake openings.

The revolving part of the'drier just described is supported upon a plate 24 having a hub 25 fixed to an upright shaft 26 preferably supplied with a bevelled gear 27 adapted to be driven by a similar gear 28 on the end of a drivingshaft 29. This shaft may be driven by any desired means as by the pulley 30.

Arranged concentrically with the upright shaft 26, and on the upper side of the floor 15 is a ball-bearing 31 upon which rests the central bearing 32 of the central support, and

preferably a stationary frame which supports the trays 13.

-At the top of this frame and in alignment with the shaft 26 is fixed a stub shaft which extends upward through the top plate or cover 14. In the specific form shown, this stub shaft is hollow as shown at 33 and it carries a flange 34 which confines an upper ball-bearing, revolving on the central plate 35 attached on top of the plate 14.

The hollow stub shaft 33 is fixed, as by a nut 36, to a pipe 37 extending down through said shaft from a tank 38 carried by a fixed support 39. Between the tank 38 and the end of the shaft 33 is placed a valve 40 which may be opened and closed by means of a shaft 41 which can be turned by hand Wheel 42 or otherwise.

The tube 37 extends downward and turns at right angles just beneath the top of the stationary central frame where it is bent outward so as to extend vertically along the periphery of said frame as shown at 43, where it is provided, at points between the trays 13 with short exit pipes 44 through which liquid may be allowed gradually to flow from the tank 38 into the various trays 13 either during operation of the machine or otherwise.

To provide a means through which the trays 13 may readily be removed and replaced in the central support, the wall 16 of the revolving air scooping means is provided with an opening 45. This opening is closed by a door 46, which is connected at one side to wall 16, by a hinge 47 and its other side may be provided with any suitable locking means 48 for securing the door in its closed position.

The revolving part of the drier is also provided, adjacent the top and bottom plates 14 and 15, with bafile plates 49 and 50. These baflles are located in each side of the air inlet passages and directly in front of the central support to prevent currents of air passing through the spacesabove the top plate 10 and below the bottom plate 11 and to direct the full current of air through the spaces between the trays.

. A means for readily adjusting the space between the trays 13is clearly shown in Figure 3. This means comprisesa plurality of adjustable supports 51 located within each of the trays to support the trays one above the otherin horizontally spaced relation.

The supports are each formed of a base 52 to rest upon the bottom of a tray and the base is provided .with a central perforation threaded to receive the stem of an upwardly projecting headed screw 53 for supporting the tray above.

By reason of this adjustable feature it is obvious that the space between thetrays 13 may be readily adjusted with respect to the width of the air passages through which the drying current of air is forced.

In operation the revoluble scoops create and cause an insistant and continuous force or current of air to pass in opposite directions through the spaces afforded between the trays. The currents of air though passing in opposite directions do not oppose each other since each current has its own passage or ath which preferably is on opposite sides 0 the casing 16, 17 or on opposite sides of the trays 13. The consequent reduction in air pressure over the produce in trays acts as a continuous partial vacuum, causing natural release of moisture, also lowering temperature.

It will be noted that by the construction described herein, a receptacle 13 is provided to receive material either liquid or solid to be dried. Means are then provided to create or set up a current of air which is directed over the receptacle to dry the material therein. The means creating the current of air are carried upon a rotating carrier and therefore a rotating current of drying air is passing over the receptacles.

In the preferred'construction the means for creating the current of air is mounted or carried upon a rotating carrier. The rotating carrier in the embodiment shown herein is a casing 16, 17 surrounding the receptacle or receptacles and having at least one passage therethrough for directing at least one cur-, rent of air over the receptacles and the material therein. With a casing rotating at a relatively high speed, the means or devices for creating a current of air takes preferably the form of scoops carried by the rotating casing. These scoops are similar in function, operation and construction to the blades of a. fan but adapted to the particular apparatus shown and described herein.

Various changes may be made in my apparatus without departing from the scope of my invention, and I do not limit myself to the details herein shown and described.

What I claim is:

1. A device for extracting moisture from matter comprising a pluralit of removable receptacles disposed in stac ed relation, a stationary support for said receptacles, and a rotary casing enclosing said stacked receptacles and provided with passa es forming oppositely directed air channels t rough said casing adapted when the casing is rotated to direct air in opposite directions through the casingbetween said stacked receptacles.

2. device for extracting moisture from matter comprising a plurality of removable receptacles disposed in stacked relation, a stationary support for said receptacles, a r0- tary casing enclosing said stacked receptacles and provided with passages forming oppositely directed air channels through said casing adapted when the casing is rotated to direct air in opposite directions through the casing between said stacked receptacles, said trays being spaced apart substantially a distance equivalent to the height of the tray.

3. A device for extracting moisture from matter comprising a plurality of removable receptacles disposed in stacked relation, a stationary support for said receptacles, a rotary casing enclosing said stacked receptacles and provided with passages forming oppositely directed air channels through said casing adapted when the casing is rotated to direct air in opposite directions through the casing between said stacked receptacles, and a door to give access to the receptacles in said casing. g

4. A device for extracting moisture from matter comprising a pluraht of removable receptacles disposed in stac ed 'relation, a stationary support for said receptacles, a rotary casing enclosing said stacked receptacles and provided with passages forming oppositely directed air channels through said casing adapted when the casing is rotated to direct air in opposite directions through the casing between said stacked receptacles, and means for injecting matter into the trays during rotation of the casing.

5. In a device of the class described, a lurality of stationary trays disposed in stac ed relation, a rotary casing enclosing said trays and havin passages for the inlet and outlet of air, a ho low supporting shaft about which said casing rotates, a source of supply connected with the upper end of said hollow shaft and a discharge pipe connected with the lower edge of said hollow shaft and provided with a discharge orifice projecting Into each of said trays to permit filling the trays when the casing is rotating.

6. A natural air drier comprising a receptacle for matter to be dried, means for supporting said receptacle in a stationary position,a rotary casing enclosin said rece tacle and provided with opposite y directe passages adapted when rotated to direct air annullarly through the casing over the receptac e. a

7. A device of the class described comprising stationary supporting means, a removable tray carried y said supportin means, a rotatably mounted casing enclosing said supporting means,-said casin being substantial rectangular and provide with an opening at each end, a radially disposed partition member near each end of the rotatable casing dividing the casing into parallel channels, means to produce a current of air in opposite directions in each channel across the removable tray, and means to rotate the casing.

8. A natural air drier comprising a rotary casin having inlet and discharge passages for air whereby when the casing is rotated air will pass through said casing, and a plurality of spaced trays supported in stationary stacked relation centrally of said casing whereby air drawn into said casing will be caused to pass between said tra s through constricted passages and at acce erated velocity.

9. A natural air drier comprising a stationary support for matter to be dried, and a rota'r casing enclosing said support, means in said casing forming a pair of parallel channels curved at opposite sides and ends forming deflectors when revolved for directing currents of air in opposite directions through the channels and over the stationary support, the deflecting end of each channel extendin beyond the discharge end of the parallel c annel, and means for rotating said casing.

10. A natural air desiccator for removing moisture from matter comprising a stationary support, a casing mounted to rotate about said support, and means in said casing for oppositely directing currents of air over the support, said casing bein curved at its ends and provided with a su stantially straight hollow body, and having an openin for the insertion and removal of matter to dried.

11. A device of the class described comprising stationary su porting means, a removable tray carried y said sup orting means, a casing rotatably mounted a out said supporting means, radiall disposed partition members carried b sai casing dividing the casing into channe s, means to create a current of air through the channels in opposite directions and across the removable tray, and means to rotate the casing.

12. A natural air drier comprising at least one receptacle for matter to be dried, means for supporting said receptacle, a rotary casing enclosing said receptacle, and means carried by said rotatin casing for directing at lease one current of air over the receptacle,

said current of air rotating relatively to the receptacle.

13.. A natural ai-r driercomprising at least 7 one receptacle for matter to be dried, means for supporting said receptacle in a'stationary position, a rotary casing enclos' said receptacle and means carried by sai rotating 7 casing or directing at least one current of air over the receptacle, said current of air rotating relatively to the stationary receptacle.

14. A natural air drier comprisiniitt leasit .drie I one receptacle means for matter to supports for the receptacle means a casin means enclosing said receptacle and moun independentlythereof, devices carried by the casing means for creating at least one current of air which is directed b the casing means over the receptacles, an mechanism for rotating one of said means so that the current of air rotates relatively to the receptacle.

In testimony whereof I have hereto aflixed my signature on this 27th da of June 1928.

SEYMOUR BONSALL. 

